Maryland Fatal Motorcycle Accident Attorneys

Helping Families after Tragic Motorcycle Crashes in Maryland

Riding a motorcycle can be exhilarating, convenient, and economical. It
can also be highly dangerous, as too many motorcyclists and their families
are aware. Many people said casual goodbyes to loved ones who hopped on
their motorcycles, unaware that would be their last conversation due to a fatal
motorcycle crash.

Despite the risks of riding a motorcycle, many people continue to obtain
their motorcycle licenses and ride in the state of Maryland. If a tragic
accident does occur, surviving family members should not wait to consult
with a dedicated fatal motorcycle accident lawyer to discuss their legal rights.

Call Alpert Schreyer Poe, LLC at
(301) 812-4777 for free today. We’re here to help after a sudden and traumatic loss.

Maryland Motorcycle Accident Statistics

The Maryland Department of Transportation publishes reports on accidents
that involved motorcycles.

The following are some statistics reported for a recent year:

1,449 reported motorcycle accidents

1,027 accidents resulting in injuries

83 fatal accidents

4.5 percent of all motorcycle accidents involved a fatality

221 crashes in Prince George’s County

136 crashes in Montgomery County

198 crashes in Baltimore County

199 crashes in Baltimore City

158 crashes in Anne Arundel County

50 crashes in Charles County

81 crashes in Frederick County

The following are some additional trends noticed from the reported statistics:

Motorcycle accidents increased from April to October

Fatal crashes peaked in August

More accidents occurred during the afternoon hours than other times of day

Motorcycle drivers between ages 21 and 34 were most likely to be in a fatal crash

Males were overwhelmingly more likely to be involved in fatal crashes or
any motorcycle crash at all

While we can learn about crash trends, it is all but impossible to prevent
fatal motorcycle accidents from continuing to occur in Maryland. No matter
how safe a motorcyclist may be, other drivers can be negligent and can
cause dangerous accidents.

Dangerous Motorcycle Crashes

Motorcycle crashes can be particularly dangerous for a number of reasons.
First, there is the extreme vulnerability of motorcycle drivers and passengers
when compared to other motorists. Occupants of cars and SUVs have seatbelts,
airbags, crumple zones, roll bars, and more to keep them restrained inside
the vehicle and as protected as possible from an impact. Motorcyclists,
on the other hand, have very little except for a helmet to protect them.

When a 4,000-pound vehicle hits an exposed motorcyclist, it’s not
surprising that the motorcyclist can suffer numerous traumatic injuries
to various parts of their bodies. The injuries can only multiply and get
worse if the crash throws the motorcyclist from their bike. Then, they
experience the impact of the vehicle as well as the impact with the ground.
Sometimes, a motorcycle will hit a fixed object, such as a light post,
and the motorcyclist can collide directly with that object.

Overall, motorcyclists can suffer
catastrophic injuries in accidents. Some injuries that can often be fatal include:

Sometimes, not even first responders or emergency trauma crews at the hospital
can save someone suffering from the above injuries. Sadly, the news reports
on fatal motorcycle accidents in Maryland several times per month.

What happens if your loved one is the victim of a fatal motorcycle crash?
How do you recover from this tragic loss? While the law can never turn
back time, it does give family members in this position important legal rights.

Maryland Wrongful Death Claims

Every state has its own particular laws regarding
wrongful death claims. Maryland law allows a wrongful death claim after a fatality that occurred
due to the negligence or wrongdoing of another party.

There are two separate actions that family members may file after a fatal
motorcycle crash, including:

Wrongful death claim – Brought to seek compensation for the losses
of loved ones, including lost future financial support, lost companionship,
lost support, and more. Maryland does cap non-economic losses, such as
pain and suffering, at $2 million for wrongful death claims.

Survival action – This is brought on behalf of the deceased motorcyclist’s
estate to seek compensation for harm to the motorcyclist, including medical
expenses after the accident, pain and suffering they experienced, and
funeral and burial expenses.

Generally speaking, primary beneficiaries such as spouses, children, and
parents may file a wrongful death claim, a survival action, or both. If
no primary beneficiaries are available or willing to file, secondary beneficiaries
such as siblings or cousins may be able to do so. The damages from a survival
action will go to the estate and distributed in line with the deceased
person’s will or Maryland intestate laws.

Seeking the Recovery Your Family Deserves

If you suddenly lose a loved one in a fatal motorcycle accident, you may
face many losses, both emotional and financial. If the motorcyclist was
a primary financial provider for your household, you may wonder how you
are going to pay your bills on top of the immense grief you are suffering.
Allow our compassionate attorneys to handle your legal case for you and
seek the compensation you deserve.

Liable parties in motorcycle accident cases can include negligent drivers,
companies, and other entities. We know how to prove negligence in a motorcycle
crash, such as:

Distracted driving

Drunk driving

Fatigued driving

Speeding

Tailgating

Dangerous lane changes

Dangerous road hazards

Malfunctioning motorcycles

We will evaluate what happened and advise you whether you may have the
right to file a wrongful death and/or survival action. We can then handle
every step of the process so that you and your family can focus on processing
your loss and moving forward.

Contact Our Maryland Fatal Motorcycle Accident Attorneys Right Away

Our Maryland injury attorneys know how difficult it can be to lose a loved
one in a sudden accident. We are here to protect your rights under Maryland
law and hold any negligent parties fully accountable for their actions.

Alpert Schreyer Poe Disclaimer: The information you obtain at this site is not, nor is it intended to be, legal advice. You should consult an attorney for advice regarding your individual situation. We invite you to contact us and welcome your calls, letters and electronic mail. Contacting us does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please do not send any confidential information to us until such time as an attorney-client relationship has been established. This web site is not intended to solicit clients for matters outside of the state of Maryland. We serve all of Maryland including Prince George’s County, Bowie, Chillum, Clinton, Fort Washington, Greenbelt, Upper Marlboro, Frederick County, Frederick, Charles County, Waldorf, White Plains, St. Mary’s County, Lexington Park, Calvert County, Anne Arundel County, Annapolis, Glen Burnie, Laurel, Odenton, Pasadena, Severn, Montgomery County, Bethesda, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Rockville, Silver Spring.